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1990 - 1995

Bakker BartIn the early nineties Nijmegen, again, had financial difficulties and a sponsor named "Bakker Bart" was prepared to carry the torch as being main sponsor from 1990 to 1992. Bakker Bart assumed main sponsorship in 1990. This was durinf the season as Nijmegen even started the season without having a main sponsor. During the players were asked to accept a salary cut of 40% and coach Cuomo did not accept this. He decided to leave Nijmegen and player Andy Tenbult took over. Despite of all the problems Nijmegen was able to keep Collin Power and managed to acquire some new players as well. In 1990 Theo Kruger joins Tenbult when coaching Bakker Bart Nijmegen in the 1990-1991 season.Nijmegen from Assen and Tommie Speel from Heerenveen. Kruger fulfilled his military service in nearby town Grave which allowed him to both play hockey and do his time as a soldier in the Dutch armed forces. Later in their careers this duo would become the most successful combination in the history of hockey in Nijmegen. From Canada also Dutch Canadian Dave van der Werf and Canadian defenseman Jeff Stanton came to Nijmegen. American player John O'Donnell joined Nijmegen as well but he was replaced by forward Jeff Nelson later in the season. Unfortunately the technically gifted defenseman Jeff Stanton would leave after that season but returned the year after in the 1992-1993 season. The 1990-1991 season was not that successful for Nijmegen as they ended only 5th of the league after the regular season although. Even the return of Danny Cuomo as a player towards the end of the season could not turn things around.

The following year (1991) Nijmegen entered the Dutch league with a very young team but was able to acquire the services of import players such as Bryant Perrier, Mark Karpen, Tim Thomas and Paul Jackson. During the season Nijmegen was also able to acquire Greg Cyr. Before the season Fred Homburg took over from Andy Tenbult as head coach. Tenbult decided that he would like to focus on playing again. However like the year before the results were dissapointing as Nijmegen missed the play-offs again. Nijmegen even had to play promotion relegation games in order to stay in the top flight.

Before the start of the 1992-1993 campaign a new sponsor was found - Flame Guards - and Flame Guards Nijmegen wins the title in 1993Nijmegen gathered a team together unseen for decades. Returning to the old nest where players like Ben Tijnagel, Harrie van Heumen and Frank Janssen. Former Utrecht import and Team Canada player Kip Noble was signed. Also returning to Nijmegen that year was solid defeneceman Jeff Stanton. Also Rick Barkovich was signed however he returned home to Canada in Mid Season and replaced by Jeff Winstanley. Coach that season was Danny Cuomo. During that same season Alex Andjelic returned as well to help out. The 1992-93 season and play-offs series were certainly one the most hectic and exciting in Dutch hockey. Nijmegen continued to have problems with the Dutch Hockey Association and faced strong side Meetpoint Eaters Geleen in the finals. Geleen had undoubtedly the most talented squad in the Netherlands with the likes of NHL players such as ex Vancouver Canuck and Montreal Canadiens winger Joe Charbonneau and Rick Boh in addition to gifted players like Chris Brant. Boh played for the Minnesota North Stars prior to coming over to The Netherlands. However in a play-off series drenched with tension and suspense Nijmegen overcame, winning the title for the third time through an unmatched team spirit and "can-do" mentality.

After the successful 1992-1993 campaign the Nijmegen squad stayed intact only to be strengthened by the likes of Jaroslav Sevcik - a former international player for Czech and former Quebec Nordique - and Dutch Canadian player Steve Kruize. Unfortunately the 1993-94 season was the season Nijmegen was taken out of the league by the Dutch Hockey Association (NIJB) after facing severe financial problems during the season. The problems occurred when the sponsor backed out and some financial mismanagement was made apparent. Even before the season started the team already got a lot of negative publicity after being involved in a massive bench clearing brawl during the European Cup games in and against Esbjerg, Denmark. In a game against Danish champions Esbjerg both teams ended up with 248 minutes in penalties. After this horrific season Nijmegen was declared bankrupt. Most players flocked out after this season. Speel went to Geleen, Herckenrath and Kruger to Eindhoven, Noble and Kruize to Tilburg and Fred Homburg, Guido Walenciak and Tijnagel stopped altogether.

Sandy & Richard McKenzie in 1994Very much like 9 years earlier, in the 1985-86 campaign, Nijmegen was revitalized in 1994 by some enthusiasts and former player Andy Tenbult was asked to start from scratch again. The players who stayed where Frank Janssen, Ron Plamont, Mark Visschers and the Stoer brothers. Also young and upcoming players like Jordy Geesink (Den Bosch) and Honore Loos (Geleen) where signed. From Truro, Canada, the MacKenzie brothers (Richard and Sandy) and defenseman Paul Strople were signed. Nijmegen was sponsored by Fulda and gained a lot of respect that season being able to compete although having a young and inexperienced team. Following years.